Question

A client is admitted to the facility with a suspected ectopic pregnancy. When reviewing the client's health history for risk factors for this abnormal condition, the nurse expects to find?

1) grand multiparity (five or more births)
2) use of an intrauterine device for 1 year
3) use of a hormonal contraceptive for 5 years
4) a history of pelvic inflammatory disease

Answer 1

The nurse expects to find a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a risk factor for ectopic pregnancy due to the association of PID with sexually transmitted infections and the formation of scar tissue in the Fallopian tubes.

Step-by-step explanation:

When reviewing the client's health history for risk factors for a suspected ectopic pregnancy, the nurse might expect to find a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to the formation of scar tissue in the Fallopian tubes, which can block or snag an embryo, preventing its progress to the uterus and increasing the risk of a tubal pregnancy. Other causes of ectopic pregnancies include the use of an intrauterine device (IUD) which can affect embryo implantation, but the most direct risk factor, given the information provided, is PID associated with sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. These infections can create conditions conducive to ectopic pregnancies by causing scar tissue development in the tubes.